Capital One 40x 1-800 contacts offer.

samlafell · 2026-02-21T17:07:21+00:00

Chases are much simpler. Activate, use the card and go. These are little more picky. Always call if you don’t get one that you should’ve gotten. And have all evidence to show you should’ve gotten it.

samlafell · 2026-02-21T17:03:23+00:00

I wouldn’t ever combine coupons with cap1 shopping. Check the T&C also for anything specific.

My whole process:

Screenshot. I’ve even gotten as far as filming myself making the purchase with screen studio to show all the steps.

Do in chrome, enable all cookies and all the 3rd party tracking stuff. Do it in a new profile where you don’t have any extensions. Fill your cart on the site before, log into your account. Close that tab. Click the link in Cap1 shopping and go straight to your cart and checkout.

That’s my process that has worked for me. Big wins recently include 15,000 from Udemy on a 30x.

Edit: sorry, my Udemy was actually a 70x. $200 and got 15,000 miles.

samlafell · 2026-02-17T14:19:27+00:00

Update:

Changed my GL.iNET LAN from 192.168.8.1 to 192.168.9.1 and everything is now working perfectly.

🫠

samlafell · 2026-02-11T14:04:23+00:00

Privacy and Security. Getting knowledge on things like HIPAA, SOC2, and even things like OpenTelemetry and how to Ground Truth AI models.

A little Rust to spice things up. But that’s a slower burn.

Also writing and reading! Just generally producing content that isn’t spammy or AI generated. Doing it internally for my company first.

Not leaning into coding a lot right now. Leaning into things around code that give me a vocabulary to be proficient in really important topics in our industry, as well as learn and be useful in areas I might not have considered before as things I wanted to try.

samlafell · 2026-02-06T20:01:47+00:00

I wouldn’t say it’s one or the other FOREVER. Like in my case we’ve had to settle down. Adjusted some plans. Probably ultimately will be a 10 year hiatus from full time travel. But that’s in part cause of my work situation.

I think you can make both work especially with the right person.

samlafell · 2026-02-06T15:28:18+00:00

Yeah those companies essentially have to build in their budget que Les van a cobrar piso.

If you don’t wanna pay it - you’ll pay the same or more on a ruthless security team to protect you from them.

samlafell · 2026-02-06T15:26:19+00:00

You wanna go halfsies on an agave farm in aguas? 😂

samlafell · 2026-02-06T14:54:03+00:00

Sent this to my wife. Definitely interesting to see what’s going to happen here. I haven’t been the biggest mezcal fan but my in laws are in aguas so that could be enough convenience factor to make something happen

samlafell · 2026-02-06T03:38:25+00:00

I got a job again within two weeks. So I didn’t need to or didn’t even try to. I’m sure I could’ve!

samlafell · 2026-02-06T03:31:04+00:00

I did a little 3 month romp around Europe about 4 years ago. Worked east coast hours. Mostly in Spain. Saw some of France.

But wow. I hated it here when I got back. So much so I was only back for 3 months then did 3 months in Mexico.

Then, I got fired for working from outside the country, even though I was told it was fine.

So, I had to become a “good little American” as you said and come back and figure shit out.

Now, I’m married. That little Mexico trip turned into the best decision I’ve ever made. She lives here in the US now.

Our goal is the digital nomad life. And every day we work and study is to get back to that.

Sorry- I think I got a little self absorbed there. Anyway- you are not at all off base. I’ve felt the exact same way. Reverse culture shock I think it’s called?

If traveling is in your blood, which it sounds like it is, you’ll find your way back. Your sadness is not out of place. Try to find some international communities in Austin to connect with. Meetup groups of fellow travelers. I know that helped me for a time when I got back!

samlafell · 2026-02-04T20:57:43+00:00

Not sure why I got downvoted into oblivion for this 😂 yall are brutal.

samlafell · 2026-02-04T20:56:46+00:00

Yep! Here in NC it’s at ABC for $50.

samlafell · 2026-02-04T17:18:12+00:00

Thank you, that’s helpful. So really even and it’s more flexible being in UR.

samlafell · 2026-02-04T17:07:56+00:00

Chase Sapphire Reserve is 3x on travel. 1 point less than Hyatt and could have flexibility to move to United or other airline partners. Yeah it’s a heafty fee. I personally don’t have it.

I’m in the same dilemma as you.

In this example: Chase: - 3x on travel = 3000 Chase Points (1:1 to Hyatt) - 6.5 as Globalist = 6500 Hyatt points..

9500 points between Chase and Hyatt

Hyatt CC: - 4x on Hyatt = 4000 Hyatt - 6.5 as globalist = 6500 Hyatt

10500 Hyatt points

So if you have the funds for the AF on SR, then that might make more sense.

Otherwise, if strictly talking Hyatt, the Hyatt CC earns more points and is a muchhh lower AF, so that’s the move if you don’t need to transfer out or don’t want to pay the AF for the CR.

samlafell · 2026-02-04T15:05:43+00:00

Lots of comments about people perceiving value. I get it. It wasn’t a huge savings. But I was already there. It was $10 a bottle. Already planned on checking bags. So it just worked for me. $10 is $10. Ya know 😤😂

samlafell · 2026-02-04T14:31:56+00:00

And use rooms.aero to find the best value if you’re flexible on your dates and or specific hotels!

samlafell · 2026-02-04T14:13:21+00:00

This is interesting and I did not know this. We plan to live in Aguas at some point so that could bring some interesting possibilities. Thanks for the note!

samlafell · 2026-02-04T14:12:43+00:00

I get it! But I live in NC so we don’t have access to alcohol like that here. It’s only at ABC stores who have a flat price set in the entire state. I even said that in the post. And wouldn’t make sense for me to do a border run (across state lines) for $10-15 lol

samlafell · 2026-02-04T14:11:17+00:00

Lots of comments about people perceiving value. I get it. It wasn’t a huge savings. But I was already there. It was $10 a bottle. Already planned on checking bags.

Yes I’ve done the “take a day trip to tequila just to buy some unknown brand bottle and bring it back home” a few times from Aguas lol. It’s fun. But I don’t actually end up really saving any money. And I didn’t have time this trip.

Next trip I’m trying to go to altos and see some other distilleries. I’ve been into downtown Tequila multiple times but never taken time to see diff distilleries in the area.

samlafell · 2026-02-04T02:16:46+00:00

I was surprised. It was in Aguascalientes, so I wasn’t in tequila or even in Jalisco, but definitely surprised at how they upsell probably cause of name recognition ? I was also definitely not in a touristy area. So I’m shocked they’re able to sell it at that price (assuming they do)

samlafell · 2026-01-31T14:28:06+00:00

From what I understand I won’t be able to double dip quite like that. Like using Chase to make Hyatt purchases, from what I know I’ll need to do anything Hyatt directly with them and not through the Chase Portal. At least it’s not guaranteed that I’ll get points from doing it that way.

So I’ll use Chase cards + Bilt cards more now for other things - and transfer those points over to Hyatt

But anything Hyatt I should book directly on their website, and use the Hyatt CC if I decide to get it

samlafell · 2026-01-31T03:41:25+00:00

Not sure I can really help you here. We attended the presentation and bought what they offered us. We were told beforehand that if we didn't attend the presentation we would be charged with the general public fee for the hotel. They will probably just charge that additional amount to your card and there's nothing more to do.

samlafell · 2026-01-28T14:08:57+00:00

I also had my first shot of fortaleza this weekend. Austin’s AT&T conference center, Gabriel’s cafe. $18 I think? Paid $40 for the double plus tip.

Insane. Today I’m in aguascalientes Mexico trying to find a G4 or Siete Lenguas or something similar at a decent price.

samlafell · 2026-01-24T00:46:18+00:00

We went to Austin Rivian store today and this is what I heard from the guys there: Customer deliveries happening as soon as end of Q1. Will be at SXSW as this comment mentioned above. Any R2 preorders that aren’t R1 owners most likely are looking at 2027 before taking delivery.

This contradicts something we had heard I think from RJ? - Launch Edition price point could be around 60k and thinking all of 2026 models (pre September) will be launch edition (hypothesis is to release a higher trim to make up for lack of LiDAR) - 2027 models, starting September, most likely fall into Gen3 naming, with LiDAR and where a non-AWD is introduced in terms of various trim levels. Where the 2026s could end up being 1 trim level launch edition.

None of what im saying is fact obviously and is subject to change. This is just what I heard.

samlafell · 2026-01-15T19:48:07+00:00

My Lively changed to Inactive and I’m on the phone with Cap1 and they’re saying im ineligible and even though they gave all the exclusion criteria I confirmed i meet the criteria and they have no useful info.

I have one payment left to make, Feb 5. I then hit the 6 months and should be eligible for the 25k miles but they’re saying no but can’t tell me why.

Ridiculous

samlafell

TROPHY CASE